Antibiotic Effects of Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae) against Field Crops and Pathogens Causing Mastitis in Dairy Cattle in three Districts of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The destructive nature of Argemone mexicana against field crops and grazing lands as invasive species and, the antibiotic effect for treating common diseases of dairy cattle causing mastitis were investigated at Farta, Gondar and Bahir Dar zuria districts. Plant materials were extracted and the bacteria were isolated from milk of cows infected by mastitis. Finally, sensitivity tests were conducted using standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that the mean distribution of Argemone in roadside land use type (18.53±6.2) was higher than that of fallow land (4.25±0.75) and farmland (2.72±0.44). The mean abundance per transect belt in 2013 in Farta district (8.5±8.3) was higher than that of Bahir Dar zuria (7.7±8.0) and Gondar district (5.6±4.4). The antibacterial activity of oil cakes extracted from cooked and raw seeds, and fresh plant juice extracts revealed strong inhibition in bacterial growth. Cakes produced from cooked Argemone seeds shown strong inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli than Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus aglaciatae. As the distribution and abundance of the plant increased, the abundance and distribution of native plant species decreased. However, Argemone plant extracts shown excellent potential in treating diseases of mastitis.